Karthik Purnima

The Lord Brahma celebration day

Considered one of the most important holy cities of India, Pushkar is the subject of an annual gigantic pilgrimage, coinciding with the big « mela » *. It takes place during the 15th full moon of the Hindu calendar within Karthik month. It celebrates Brahma, the creative God of the Hindus and first limb of the Trimurti **.
According to legend, Brahma released the city under the influence of a devil by throwing on him the lotus flower he held in his hand. By touching the ground, the flower revealed the sacred lake. Since then, Râjasthânis go to Pushkar at least once in their life.

On the day of Purmina ***, the culmination of this celebration, the alleyways of the usually peaceful city metamorphose into a real human swarm. A procession of men, women and children, dressed as Hindu deities avatars, starts from the Sikh temple, leading the faithful to the way of the sacred Ghât.
In a huge walkabout, the city then takes the shape of an earthly rainbow sky. The colorful attire of thousands of pilgrims compete neck and neck to rush into a human vortex towards the lake.

Fervently, silhouettes undress, and vanish into the ritual of the sacred bath…
Integral with water, souls and minds with heaven, and being one with God.* Camel fair ** Trinity of the Indian deities, including Vishnu and Shiva *** Full moon